Hutchinson grass fire burns hundreds of acres

BORGER — Hutchinson County authorities said a grass fire on the Turkey Track Ranch burned hundreds of acres Tuesday afternoon but did not damage any houses.

Crews from several emergency agencies worked into the night to extinguish the fire, but Hutchinson County Chief Emergency Services Coordinator Danny Richards said the “main part of the fire” was under control by about 6:30 p.m.

Richards said by about 6 p.m. the fire had burned about 500 acres in the area about 15 miles north of Stinnett.

Rough terrain had hindered some firefighting efforts, he said, and a vehicle driven by a KFDA-TV reporter rolled trying to leave the ranch. No injuries were reported in the crash.

Richards said a helicopter would remain above the scene to drop water on hotspots. Two other helicopters — including one from Texas Department of Public Safety — were used as spotters.

Richards said emergency crews from Hutchinson County, Stinnett, Borger, Fritch, Skellytown, Spearman, Gruver, the Crutch Ranch, Big Creek Ranch and the National Parks Service fought the fire. He also said the Red Cross had come to the scene.

Stinnett resident Julie Treon said she heard sirens passing through town about 3:22 p.m. and said a smoke plume north of town looked like low-hanging clouds.

There was an oil rig explosion at the ranch Nov. 8. Richards has said no injuries were reported in that incident.

Nathan Blankenship can be reached at feature@borgernewsherald.com, and JC Cortez can be reached at editor@borgernewshearald.com. Amarillo Globe-News Web reporter Stephanie Williams and Amarillo Globe-News Online Editor Ricky Treon contributed to this report.